Exploring Steamboat

Steamboat Springs  The first time I made the trip over Rabbit Ears Pass, I was struck by the sheer beauty of the view that seemed to spread out before me like a welcome mat. Lake Catamount, the Yampa Valley and majestic Mount Werner all competed for my attention, and as I drove past Steamboat Ski Area and as U.S. Highway 40 transitioned into Lincoln Avenue, I discovered downtown Steamboat Springs with its charming storefronts and sidewalks filled with people who all seemed to be so incredibly healthy and happy.

That first trip to Steamboat occurred in 1984 when my future husband and I joined a group of college friends from Columbia, Mo., to spend our spring break enjoying Steamboat’s famous Champagne Powder. Throughout the years, my husband and I returned to Steamboat numerous times for ski trips with family and friends, always commenting on the friendliness of the community, the excellent snow and the area’s breathtaking scenery.

Calling Colorado home was always in our plans, and so when the opportunity arose to interview for the editor’s position at the Steamboat Pilot & Today, I didn’t hesitate for a second. My husband and I took a few vacation days, flew to Denver and then made the two-hour-and-45-minute drive to Steamboat. Upon our arrival in town, we immediately felt as though we were coming home. Everything came together serendipitously, and within six weeks, I found myself moving to Northwest Colorado.

My first priority was to get acclimated to a new newspaper operation and get to know the Pilot & Today staff, whom I have found to be an extremely talented, dedicated and welcoming group of professionals. Now, I am embarking on part two of my new life in a new town by learning as much as I can about Steamboat and Routt County.

As the Pilot & Today’s new editor, I believe it’s vitally important for me to establish a dialogue with the community, and I am launching this column as a way to do just that.

Since moving to Steamboat, I find I’m in a state of constant discovery. During the past five weeks, which have flown by quickly, I’ve met incredibly interesting people daily and have had the pleasure of sampling just a few events on Steamboat’s seemingly endless schedule of activities from Seminars at Steamboat to the USA Pro Challenge to the Doc Willett Health Care Heritage Awards celebration. This early introduction to Steamboat has whetted my appetite for more.

As a journalist, I’m curious by nature and always looking for the next great story. I have a firmly held philosophy that everyone has a story to tell if you can get them to talk to you long enough, and I thrive on unearthing those personal histories. I also love to discover new places to explore, new trails to climb and new experiences to try.

Each week, I will use this column to share my latest adventures and discoveries about Steamboat Springs and the other extraordinary Routt County communities. The subject of my column may focus on a person, a place, an organization, an event or an activity — whatever captures my imagination and curiosity. You may be familiar with who or what I’m writing about, but hopefully, my words will present a fresh perspective viewed through the eyes of someone experiencing all Steamboat has to offer for the very first time.

I invite readers to join me on my quest of discovery by emailing me or calling me with places you’d like me to visit, people you want me to meet or activities you’d like me to try. My email is lschlichtman@SteamboatToday.com, and you can reach me by phone at 970-871-4221. I look forward to “Discovering Steamboat,” and I invite you to join me on the journey.